Philosophy

Biology

Abortion

Moral obligation

Scope (computer science)

Computer science

Prima facie

Bodily integrity

Genetics

Psychology

Compromise

Environmental ethics

Relevance (law)

Political science

Epistemology

Sociology

Intellectual property

Programming language

Moral rights

Obligation

Pregnancy

Journal of Medical Ethics

The contemporary philosophical literature on abortion primarily revolves around three seemingly intractable debates, concerning the (1) moral status of the fetus, (2) scope of women’s rights and (3) moral relevance of the killing/letting die distinction. The possibility of ectogenesis—technology that would allow a fetus to develop outside of a gestational mother’s womb—presents a unique opportunity for moral compromise. Here, I argue those opposed to abortion have a prima facie moral obligation to pursue ectogenesis technology and provide ectogenesis for disconnected fetuses as part of a moral compromise.

Abortion and Ectogenesis: Moral Compromise